Scarlet Pimpernel [Paperback]

Baroness Orczy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2005

The Terror has begun. Paris, 1792. Each day scores of the French nobility feed the guillotine. They are trapped in the capital. There is no escape. But rumours whisper of a league of young English gentleman of unparalleled daring who are risking their lives to spirit aristocrats across the Channel. They leave no trace behind them except a note from the 'Scarlet Pimpernel'. The ruthless spy master Chauvelin is determined to stop the rescuers by fair means or foul, and, desperately outnumbered, the Scarlet Pimpernel and his men must use all their wits to evade capture and stay alive.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Anyone who feels that their outward manner is but a travesty of their inner self can hardly fail to respond to THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL' -- Independent

About the Author

Baroness Orczy was the daughter of a musician. Educated in Paris and Brussels, she then studied art in London, where she exhibited some of her work at the Royal Academy. THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL was the first success in her long writing career which encompassed both plays and novels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hodder Pb (October 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340894989
• ISBN-13: 978-0340894989
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,801,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars "It was the sound of a good, solid, absolutely British `Damn!'", January 8, 2012

By 

bernie "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Scarlet Pimpernel (Paperback)

I first saw several movie versions of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and always wanted to see the Play. With the purchase of a Kindle and text-to-speech I could not afford to pass up the book.

I was amazed to see that the book started out like the movies with the telling of the blood lust of the French revolution and how one man for the sport of it saved many from the guillotine thwarting the authorities and tricking the sergeant at the city gate into letting him through.

Then I was afraid the story was going to bog down as we took a long time to drudge through a scene in an inn. I did not realize that this was to introduce the major players in the soon to be mystery.

The essence of the story was best said in the book:
"Only between these two hearts there lay a strong, impassable barrier, built up on pride on both sides, which neither of them cared to be the first to demolish."

The story really picks up after Marguerite realizes what she has done by giving away the pimpernels identity and disides to make amends.

Usually I cannot stand flowery writing or long descriptions of feelings. But for some reason this book was so well written that what would seem like extraneous information actually enhanced the tale. I also noticed it is told mostly from Lady Blakeney's point of view.

Once again this is a case of the book being better than the movie. I was surprise to find the Pimpernel poem came from the book:

They seek him here they seek him there
Them Frenchies seek him everywhere.
Is he in Heaven?
Is he in Hell?
That damned elusive pimpernel.

4.0 out of 5 stars Super Reader, August 30, 2007

By 

Blue Tyson "- Research Finished" (Legion clubhouse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scarlet Pimpernel (Paperback)

Set in France, the Scarlet Pimpernel is a pro royal, or at least anti-guillotine proto superhero, who leads the followers of Robespierre a merry dance as her rescues plenty of people from their fate.

He has his friends and helpers, this dashing Englishman, and it is through them that the French try and discover his identity.